Storm acquire Sykes from Mystics for Clark, pick

The Washington Mystics have traded guard Brittney Sykes to the Seattle Storm in a deal that sends forward Alysha Clark and Seattle's 2026 first-round pick to D.C. Guard Zia Cooke also went from the Storm to the Mystics in the transaction but has since been waived. Washington forward Sika Kone was also waived to complete the trade.

The Storm are still in possession of two 2026 first-round picks after acquiring one each from Los Angeles and Las Vegas in prior transactions. The rebuilding Mystics now own three 2026 first-round picks.

Sykes is having one of the best seasons of her nine-year WNBA career, averaging 15.4 points, 4.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game. The guard is expected to bring additional scoring punch to a Storm team that ranks ninth in offensive rating, and to further bolster its defense, one of the best in the league.

The four-time all-defensive selection was named to her first All-Star team this summer when she replaced the injured Caitlin Clark on Team Clark.

Alysha Clark took less money to sign with the Storm in free agency, where she won championships in 2018 and 2020, but sources told ESPN that expectations for the team and her role didn't pan out as anticipated on either side. Clark is averaging 18.0 minutes per game and recorded her first DNP since 2012 on Friday.

She rejoins a Washington team where she spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons and is expected to have a larger role.

The Mystics, who have lost five of their past seven games, are 13-15 and would be slotted to end up in the lottery if the season ended today.

Seattle sits at sixth in the standings at 16-13.

The league's trade deadline is Thursday.

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne also contributed to this report.